An electric windmill is a windmill that is used to produce an electrical current through the use of a wind turbine. The relatively new technology offers some promise, especially in windy areas, or at least in areas with a steady wind. It can take a wind speed of less than 10 mph (16 kph) to generate enough rotation to produce a steady stream of electricity.
The electric windmill comes in two different types. A smaller electric windmill is used to generate power for a single building, usually a private residence. The larger electric windmill can be used on a commercial scale to produce vast amounts of electricity.
An electric windmill works by using the energy available in wind. The wind runs over the blades, which forces them to rotate. A shaft connected to the blades turns gears inside the windmill, which in turn spins a magnetic rotor. This causes electromagnetic induction to take place, which produces an electrical current that can either be stored or placed on an electrical grid for transmission to another destination.
When multiple electric windmills are used, they are normally in a geographically isolated area and put very close together. These are known as wind farms. While they may not generate as much power as traditional electrical generation stations, the energy they do produce is considered some of the most environmentally friendly.
The United States and Germany lead the world in electric windmill generation. The United States takes second in the category, but is quickly expanding its use of wind power. The largest wind farm in the United States is known as the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in Texas and produces more than 750 megawatts. This produces far more energy than many single coal-fired power plants in the United States. However, it takes a tremendous amount of land area to do so.
The home electric windmill is another source of electricity that produces far less energy, but can substantially cut down on a home’s energy bill. In some cases, if an electric windmill produces more energy than a home requires, that energy is put back on the electrical grid and bought by the servicing utility company. However, in most cases it will be difficult to achieve a net profit over a month’s time. Any energy put onto the grid is usually not paid in cash, but rather sold as a credit on the customer’s bill.
While there are many benefits to using electric windmills, there are a number of criticisms over the inventions as well. Some complain about the aesthetics of the large turbines. Others say they produce too much noise. Some say they create hazards for birds, which often cannot see the turbines or do not know to avoid them, especially when flying at night. Still, it is a form of energy production that produces no pollution and does not contribute to the production of greenhouse gasses.